S-1938.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6037
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State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Agriculture & International Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Prentice, Kohl‑Welles and Parlette)
READ FIRST TIME 03/05/01.
AN ACT Relating to authorizing animal care and control agencies and nonprofit humane societies to provide limited veterinarian services; and adding new sections to chapter 18.92 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 18.92 RCW to read as follows:
The legislature recognizes that low-income households may not receive needed veterinary services for household pets. It is the intent of the legislature to allow qualified animal control agencies and humane societies to provide limited veterinary services to low‑income members of our communities. It is not the intent of the legislature to allow these agencies to provide veterinary services to the public at large.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 18.92 RCW to read as follows:
(1)(a) Subject to the limitations in this section, animal care and control agencies as defined in RCW 16.52.011 and nonprofit humane societies, that have qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code may provide limited veterinary services to animals owned by qualified low-income households. The veterinary services provided shall be limited to electronic identification, surgical sterilization, and vaccinations. For purposes of this section, "low-income household" means the same as in RCW 43.185A.010.
(b) Animal control agencies and nonprofit humane societies, receiving animals on an emergency basis, may provide emergency care, subject to a local ordinance that defines an emergency situation and establishes temporary time limits. Any local ordinance addressing the needs under this subsection that was approved by the voters and is in effect on the effective date of this act remains in effect.
(2) Veterinarians employed at these facilities must be licensed under this chapter. No officer, director, supervisor, or any other individual associated with an animal care or control agency or nonprofit humane society owning and operating a veterinary medical facility may impose any terms or conditions of employment or direct or attempt to direct an employed veterinarian in any way that interferes with the free exercise of the veterinarian's professional judgment or infringes upon the utilization of his or her professional skills.
(3) A veterinarian and animal control agencies and humane societies acting under this section shall, for purposes of providing the limited veterinary services, meet the requirements established under this chapter and are subject to the rules adopted by the veterinary board of governors in the same fashion as any licensed veterinarian or veterinary medical facility in the state.
(4) The Washington state veterinary board of governors shall adopt rules to ensure that agencies and societies are in compliance with this section. The limited veterinary medical service authority granted by this section may be suspended, revoked, or conditioned by a determination of the board of governors for any act of noncompliance with this section.
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